The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or Canada PNP program is a beneficial immigration gateway for eligible experienced and trained, skilled workers, immigrants, interested youth and so on. The Canadian Provincial Nominee Program can help eligible applicants to get extra points on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scale, if their Canada PNP program applications are aligned with Express Entry system.
According to news reports and experts, the Canada PNP program has a proven track record of supporting applications of candidates seeking Permanent Residence status of Canada. It is estimated that Canada PNP program will be a one of the surest and top economic class immigration pathway in 2022 and 2023 helping more than 80,000 new immigrants per year. Read on to know more about Canada PNP program, eligibility criteria, documentation required and steps to apply.
What is Canada Provincial Nominee Program?
There were limited Canadian provincial immigration programs till 1998 since most of the immigrants and skilled workers wanted to work and stay in big cities or provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and so on. Other key provinces in Canada started facing shortage of efficient manpower and talented youth. To resolve this issue, the authorities framed and designed Canada PNP program that supports interests of both – immigrants and provinces in Canada. This helped new immigrants, skilled workers and professionals to settle in other Canadian provinces without difficulties.
Further, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also introduced PNP aligned with Express Entry gateway for applicants seeking Canadian PR in fastest and hassle free manner.
This created two categories in Canadian Provincial Nominee Program, which are mentioned below –
- Base provincial nomination program
Under this Canada PNP program, applicants must directly apply to selected Canadian province to gain Canadian PR after fulfilling all eligibility criteria. It is termed as base provincial nomination. The country offers more than 80 provincial nominee program for Canada. Candidates who fulfil all eligibility criteria are easily selected by specific Canadian province. The application procedure and processing steps are available on different provincial government websites. The provincial authorities assess all received applications based on human capital factors as well as adaptability of applicants. Only eligible applicants receive letter of nomination by specific provincial government. - Enhanced provincial nomination program
The selected or nominated applicants can submit letter of provincial nomination in the Express Entry pool along with their online application (profile) to secure Canadian PR. It is important to note that applicants entering the Express Entry pool must qualify for any one immigration pathway – Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This category which is aligned with Express Entry pool is called Enhanced PNP.
The provincial governments also scrutinize all online applications along with IRCC to identify efficient and talented applicants. Candidates, who seem ideal and good fit for job markets in particular province may receive a notification of interest in order to apply for provincial nomination. Candidates who receive letter of provincial nomination receive additional 600 CRS points in addition to existing score that make them eligible for Canadian PR. That’s why Enhanced PNP are sometimes termed as safest and fastest gateway to gain Canadian PR status.
Further, candidates are allowed to apply for base PNP even if they have submitted applications in Express Entry pool under Enhanced PNP in order to explore more options for Canadian immigration. Enhanced PNP brightens the prospects of applicants since it enhances CRS points that supports applicants’ chances to get Canadian PR. Candidates having a valid job offer and relevant Canadian work experience can immigrate to Canada in hassle free manner.
Enhanced PNP also impacts processing time. Compared to other immigration gateways, Enhanced PNP applications are processed and sorted within six months’ duration. On the other hand, the average processing time for Base PNP gateway is 27 months’ duration.
On top of it, the processing fee also makes a huge difference in case of Canada PNP program. The application fee for Express Entry is approximately $1,365 CAD besides fees for biometrics, language ability test or IELTS, medical test and educational credential assessment (ECA). In case of migration with spouse or common-law partner (or dependents), there will be additional application fees for each person.
What are Processing Steps of Canadian Provincial Nominee Program?
After accepting provincial nomination, eligible applicants must submit a separate PNP application to particular provincial government. After fulfilling all eligibility criteria, applicants will get a letter of nomination that they can submit along with online application in Express Entry pool. They will get extra 600 CRS points and make them eligible to get Invitation To Apply (ITA) for Canadian Permanent Residence status.
Overall, for Enhanced PNP applicants must follow below-mentioned processing steps –
- Confirming eligibility parameters for Express Entry aligned PNP
- Submit online profile (also called Expression of Interest) in Express Entry pool or on IRCC’s website
- Eligible applicants will receive a provincial notification of interest which they must accept within given time frame and submit it with separate provincial nomination application
- Provincial government will issue a provincial nomination to eligible applicants. It will add extra 600 CRS points besides existing score in online profile in Express Entry pool
- Eligible applicants will receive ITA by IRCC. They can submit Canadian PR application within given time frame to IRCC
- Selected applicants need to get their medical and police verification done
- Once all documents are verified by the IRCC and visa is granted to selected applicants, they can fly to Canada as permanent residents
What is Application Fees for Canada PNP program in 2022?
Different Canadian provinces or Canadian Provincial Nominee Program have application fees that varies from $250 CAD to $1500 CAD. In case of Canada PNP program, applicants need to pay application fees twice – first, at the time of submitting PNP application to specific provincial government; and second, to IRCC for processing PR application in Express Entry pool. It is important to note that provinces like Nova Scotia; Newfoundland and Labrador; Yukon; and Northwest Territories do not charge PNP application fees.
Canada PNP Program Fees in 2022
Name of Program | Fees for Primary Applicant (in CAD) |
British Columbia PNP | $ 1150 |
New Brunswick PNP | $ 250 |
Quebec PNP | $ 844 |
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program | $ 1500 |
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program | $ 500 |
Prince Edward Island PNP | $ 300 |
Manitoba PNP | $ 500 |
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program | $ 350 |
Processing fees structure for Enhance PNP –
Nature of Application | Fees (in CAD) |
Processing fee and Canadian PR | $ 1365 |
Spouse processing fees and Canadian PR | $ 1365 |
A child or dependent processing fees | $ 230(each person) |
Experts suggest that individual applicants must understand all eligibility criteria before applying for Base or Enhanced PNP. They must assess their credentials with the help of trusted immigration consultant having proven track record in Canada immigration. This way applicants can avoid confusion, delay or in some cases rejection of applications.
Seek Guidance From Signature Visas to successfully get through Canada PNP program
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